A blog of overseas Pakistani friends

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), in collaboration with mobile phone companies, on Friday launched a service for the instant verification of identity cards via sending of the CNIC number through an SMS. Launching the service, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said no foreigners had direct access to the NADRA database. “We will not allow any foreign access to NADRA data,” the minister said. He said a new service would soon be launched in Islamabad for the computerised registration of vehicles, adding that a special chip would be installed in the vehicle, which would make them easily traceable. Speaking on the occasion, NADRA Chairman Ali Arshad Hakeem said an SMS containing the CNIC number could be sent on 7000 using a mobile phone, thus enabling the sender to get the name and father’s name of that particular person. Tahir Niaz (Daily Times)